Millions of cricket fans know Jemimah Rodrigues as the smiling batter who plays fearless cricket under pressure. Whether she is rescuing India from a tricky situation or entertaining crowds with her aggressive strokeplay, she has become one of the most recognisable faces in women's cricket.But while fans celebrate her achievements and stadiums echo with applause, there is one person whose approval still means more to her than anything else, her father, Ivan Rodrigues.Read More - Father-Child AI PromptsThis Father's Day, their story is a touching reminder that behind every successful athlete is often a parent who spent years making sacrifices, offering encouragement and believing in a dream long before anyone else did.Why does her father's opinion matter so much?According to HT, Jemimah has never hidden her admiration for her father. "Not all heroes wear capes. My dad is my hero. He has led by example, showing me how to dream big, work hard and live a life of faith in God. He has made me the player I am today and I love him a lot," she told HT.Read More - Happy Father’s Day 2026 WishesFor Ivan, the bond is just as strong. Speaking to HT, he revealed that his daughter's biggest achievement is not fame or trophies, but the fact that she still values his opinion above all else."You can ask Jemimah, it doesn't matter even if the whole world praises her. But when her dad praises her, it means everything to her," he told HT.Ivan Rodrigues' Father's Day message for parentsOn Father's Day, Ivan shared a heartfelt message for parents raising children with big dreams. According to HT, he believes parents should focus on supporting their children rather than pushing their own ambitions onto them."Don't try to live your dreams vicariously through your children. Let them discover their passion, find what drives them and stand by them through their journey. Do whatever it takes to support them in achieving their dreams, whatever they may be," he told HT.How did he manage being both father and coach?Ivan is not just Jemimah's father. He is also a cricket coach who runs an academy in Mumbai's Juhu area.According to HT, he always made sure there was a clear distinction between coaching and parenting."On the field, I am her coach. She has to follow the same discipline and seriousness as every other student. But once we get home, the father takes over," he told HT.That balance helped Jemimah learn discipline while always knowing she had unconditional support waiting for her at home.The setback that tested them bothEvery sportsperson faces difficult moments, and one of Jemimah's toughest came when she was dropped from an important match during a major tournament.Recalling the episode, Ivan told HT that she returned home feeling crushed by the disappointment and pressure.But instead of letting the setback define her, he reminded her of a lesson he had taught her since childhood."Walk like a king. Never droop down. To have the lion's share, have a lion's heart," he told HT.The advice stayed with her, helping her regain confidence and return stronger.The sacrifices behind the successSuccess rarely comes without sacrifice, and the Rodrigues family knows that better than most.According to HT, Ivan revealed that the family moved from Bhandup to Bandra so Jemimah could access better training opportunities.The move meant adjusting to a much smaller living space and making financial sacrifices to support her cricketing ambitions.He also recalled countless journeys to matches, coaching sessions and training schedules that became part of daily life.One memory stands out in particular. "Our church had a basement, so I laid an Astro Turf mat there. After all the church activities ended, we would practise at 1am and return home around 2.30am," he told HT.Learning women's cricket alongside his daughterAt a time when women's cricket received far less attention than it does today, Ivan realised he needed to learn more about the game himself.According to HT, he travelled to watch legendary Indian cricketers such as Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur in action so he could better understand the level Jemimah would need to reach.His commitment to learning alongside his daughter became another important part of her development.What makes Ivan most proud?Surprisingly, Ivan says the thing that makes him proudest has little to do with cricket. According to HT, what he values most is how grounded Jemimah has remained despite becoming one of India's biggest cricket stars.He shared a simple story about her buying kadak pav for her brothers on his scooter shortly after a major tournament victory.For him, that humility says more about her character than any trophy ever could.A Father's Day story about belief, sacrifice and loveToday, as Jemimah Rodrigues prepares for new challenges and continues chasing cricketing glory, her father remains her biggest supporter.Their story is about much more than cricket. It is about sacrifice, trust, resilience and a father's belief in his daughter when success was still only a dream.And perhaps that is why, even after all the runs, records and applause, one compliment from her father still means more than praise from the entire world.